The Iron Hand

Everyone in the class was afraid of our Chemistry Sir, and I was no exception. Though short in stature, Sir commanded respect from all quarters. His mastery over the subject had won him many admirers, but a lot many of us respected him out of fear. An indomitable voice, that always demanded a "pin-drop" silence, was one of the numerous arrows in his quiver. I'll tell you about the other arrows some other time! The super-arrow that he had was his thick fleshy hand - the Iron Hand.

It was a lousy Thursday afternoon and we were all dead tired after the rounds of basketball that had ensued in the previous time-slot. As usual, I had occupied the first row in the class. Not because I was a book-worm or was thoroughly interested in studies, it was my damned height which had forced me to do so. Everyone was creating some sort of noise while reluctantly settling down with their notebooks and pen. It all died down the moment sir entered. He immediately picked up the piece of chalk and scribbled something on the blackboard. "Chemical Bonding" - I could read it only after he moved away from the blackboard and started his lecture. Passionate as he was for chemistry, he wanted everybody to pay minute attention to what he was saying. Ofcourse all the teachers say that. But in chemistry class, our head was like a magnetic needle pointing North. And North was none other than our Sir. So his to and fro walks near the blackboard would have a fifty heads swinging alike. A view to watch!

Sorry that I have divulged into the classroom ambience bit more than what was required. But its all too irresistible for me! The main turn in the story comes now!

Amal used to sit behind me and that day, he did something which was going to be a turning point in my life. Curious as you may be to know what he did, I must admit that I am going to dissapoint you by telling that he kept hitting my legs from behind and I kept turning behind to find out the culprit. It was like there were 49 North oriented needles and a single dis-oriented one. Sir noticed. "You! stand up !" boomed Sir's voice, with no doubts about the level at which his anger was at that moment. It looked like all the electrons in an atom had forgotten "aufbau principle" and were orbiting at their highest energy states.

Now here's a part that you may associate with the action flick "Matrix". Sir's Iron hand started its journey for a forward sweep gathering a lot of momentum through its way. The time it reached my cheek I was already bending backwards. Many hearts skipped beats in the class as everybody watched with a bated breath. Will he get it ? or will he escape ?? But it wasn't exactly a day for the Iron Hand as it sweeped along my check, missing the expected impact and gently sliding over. I never got a chance to explain that I was an innocent victim and somebody else was the culprit. "You are going to stand outside if this happens again" was the stern warning I recieved. And I forgot the incident for another two days till I was reminded of it on Sunday.

I had gone to the railway station to see off my father. Rajdhani Express was a few minutes late and so I was idling my time near a magazine stall. Don't know what occurred to my mind, but when I turned I saw father chatting with Chemistry Sir. I couldn't believe my eyes! I shockingly recollected the incident that happened 2 days back. What the hell is he doing here ? Is he complaining about me to father ? Yes, my fears were not unfounded. He indeed was doing that. After he left I learnt that he had come to see off his son. But the only thing bothering me at that time was my father's sad face brimming with concern. "What will teachers think when they hear Sir's son is not studying and disturbs in the class ?"

I was determined to take revenge. Although in a novel way. I was determined to sum up the entire Organic Chemistry course and spit out any part that anybody dared to ask. It wasn't long before I succeeded in my revenge, and no doubt had risen in Chemistry Sir's eyes. All because I had a reason behind my success.

This happened 10 years back, and I still think, wouldn't it be nice if we had a reason, more of a fire, behind everything that we did and that drove us to achieve more??